Kia has said that it did not approve an advertising campaign featuring one of its electric vehicles with a bumper sticker criticising Tesla owner Elon Musk, as per a report. The advertisement, which appeared on Kia Norway‘s social media accounts, showed the company’s entry-level EV3 electric car with a bumper sticker that suggested dissatisfaction with the billionaire’s recent political activities.
“Kia Corporation is aware of a social media post by Kia Norway, which has since been removed. The post was an entirely independent local initiative that does not reflect the position of Kia Europe or Kia Corporation,” a Kia spokesperson stated, as per news agency AFP.
The message, which read “I bought this after Elon went crazy” appears to reference a trend among Tesla owners who have been placing stickers on their vehicles claiming they purchased them “before Musk went crazy”.
When users shared images of the advertisement on X (formerly Twitter), Musk responded with apparent surprise, asking: “They really did that?” in response to a post highlighting Kia Norway’s promotion.
Why there are protests against Elon Musk’s Tesla
Tesla has become a target for demonstrators protesting Elon Musk’s role in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Protests are occurring in multiple countries, with Tesla owners themselves joining the opposition.
Last week, dozens of protesters gathered at a Tesla showroom in Lisbon to express their disapproval of Musk’s support for far-right European political parties as Portugal approaches a potential snap election. In the same week, several protesters were arrested outside a Tesla dealership in New York City, where some chanted, “We need clean air, not another billionaire.”
Tesla owners are increasingly displaying bumper stickers with messages like “Bought it before we knew how awful he is” and “Stuck with Tesla, not stuck on Elon.” Some owners openly acknowledge their conflicted position, with statements such as, “I didn’t buy a Tesla because I like Elon, and I’m not gonna sell it just because he’s a Nazi.”
